With 2015 drawing to a close, it is time to make a review of the goals we committed to earlier this year. Remember yours? Mine were these:

Goals 2015

1. Adopt a healthier diet, reducing the consumption of carbohydrates, increasing consumption of vegetable products to the detriment of animal origin, without penalizing protein intake, and increasing water consumption.

2. Practice exercise consistently and regularly by performing daily walks of 30 minutes and going to do Pilates twice a week.

3. Organize and better manage my time and my efforts, being action oriented and fleeing procrastination.

4. Spend more time with friends, proposing and organizing moments of encounter and joint activities.

5. To develop my photography skills, studying individually with the books I have and tutorials available online.

6. Spend more time reading, taking time daily.

7. Improve the quality, relevance and regularity of the posts of Girls and also the Cravo e Canela.

I believe some of this goals are similar to some of your own. But, at the end of the year, were do I feel that I was successful? All the time and effort invested paid off? Keep the same goals or what would I change today? What can I do better next year? These are questions that we should all be trying to answer as we are making a balance of the results achieved and preparing to set new goals for the year that is about to begin. So come on! Put yourselves these questions and record the answers. They contain useful information for the formulation of the 2016 goals.

What felt successful about 2015?

The aim of devoting more time to reading has been fully achieved. I have not been able to read every day, but surpassed the target of 12 books a year that had taken on Goodreads. In fact I’ve read 16 books this year and I’m about to complete the 17th. The Goodreads is a community that you can join for free and can be a good help for your reading goals. Visit through the link in this paragraph and follow my literary adventures.

I increased the regularity of posts on Girls, trying to ensure quality and relevance (but that, my readers will be my best judges ). Also increased the presence on social networks and have learned quite a few things in this field. If its good enough? No, for the year I want more, much more!

What was time (and effort) well spent?

Especially in the first half of the year, managed to maintain a good momentum when it comes to physical exercise and healthy eating. For various reasons, the exercise training decreased in the second half. But still feel the positive effects of the investment.

The investment made with social media to boost the blog, especially in recent months, has given fruits and encourages me to continue. The same goes for my efforts to find, learn and apply in everyday life, ways to better manage time and organize tasks.

What would change?

Would not let the acquisition of new skills in photography always into second plan. This, along with the (lack of) work on Cravo & Canela blog, was the great failure of 2015! Also would structure more clearly the targets for healthy food, with more defined menus and recipes.

What can I improve next year?

Even fully achieved goals can be placed further or higher. For those goals not reached it is necessary to analyze what stopped us. Situational aspects to be taken into account in setting goals to the next year? The need to develop some kind of additional skills or obtain a certain external aid or support? The objectives were overestimated and we should be more realistic in the future? Or were not well defined and should, in the future, be more clearly detailed in its various nuances? This is a key issue before setting the targets for 2016. Earlier next year I’ll be back to the issue of Goal setting in order to show how I will draw my roadmap to success for 2016!

5 Habits of Productive People

There is an unquestionable sense of happiness and fulfillment, that comes from achieving the targets set, that we all aspire to experience. But the successful completion of the objectives within the agreed deadline depends on our ability to be productive and persevering. The 5 habits that we present today are characteristic in the daily lives of the most productive people.

They start the day with outdoor activities. Several studies show that getting up early and catch the sunlight makes people more alert and more energetic. Moreover, the contact with nature soothes and reduces stress.

They do exercise regularly. Either you go to the gym or take a nice walk, the practice of physical exercise, in addition to the obvious health benefits, seems to have impact on productivity and success in other areas of activity.

They create their own mantras. We already know that writing and viewing the goals contributes to the success in achieving them. The most productive people go one step further, repeating their goals daily and consistently.

They face challenges and start action. Sometimes the hardest thing is starting and many of us find procrastination an escape. But this escape to the challenges facing us only increases anxiety and reduces our self-confidence. Starting, even with a small step, it is essential.

They know when to pause. Interim periods of work were we are focused on a particular task with brief pauses in which we carry out other activities, allows us to relax and to return to focus with renewed attention.